Favorite Restaurant - No Longer Open?

[AzzySpazbourne]

I was just curious...

What is everyone's favorite WDW Restaurant that has departed? What was the theme, cuisine-type, and noticeable differences from present offerings?

For me, it was Kouzzina. The Southern-American/Greek fusion restaurant that took over Spoodles (on the Boardwalk). Now it's Trattoria al Forno.

Right at dinner opening (5:00 i think it was), the whole wait and kitchen staff and chef would go out onto the boardwalk and get into a big circle. They would choose one family to be "in the middle" (which was my wife and I for our trip) and do this Greek-style "Opa!" chant to get the evening going. After that the head chef would talk to us for a little bit. We still remember how Chef Dee Foundoukis just MADE our experience. She also offered us a not-on-the-menu complimentary appetizer dish and Champagne for our Honeymoon. Her interaction was more memorable than the meal itself (which was plenty memorable).

Chef Dee took over for Trattoria al Forno for a while, but have been told she is now at Le Celier. I hope she's still doing amazing things.

Anyways... what else will we never get to experience again?

 

[jenjersnap]

We loved Spoodles and Kouzzina. I have zero interest in Trattoria al Forno though, based on the menu. Well, maybe breakfast some day but not dinner.

 

[AzzySpazbourne]

I have zero interest in Trattoria al Forno though, based on the menu.

You don't think WDW needs it's 100th Italian restaurant?

 

[jenjersnap]

You don't think WDW needs it's 100th Italian restaurant?

Ah, how I wished Disney cared what I think on that subject.

 

[Kimosabe]

Alfredo's -- R.I.P.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Main Street Bakery. I see Starbucks enough at home.

 

[gatordoc]

Probably more, but two that spring to mind:
Spoodles at the Boardwalk, especially for their breakfast buffet
Palio at the Swan - still the only really good Italian meal I've had on property (and don't get me started on Il Mulino, which doesn't even touch the greatness of its NY namesake)

 

[kaybird]

Another Spoodles fan. They had a Scallop dish with mushrooms and cheese that was absolute heaven!!!

Also miss the Old character breakfast at Fort Wilderness. Lots of food, Chip and Dale, and Buff and Melvin from Country Bears Wall. So much fun, think I still have my kazoo!

 

[Micca]

If you enjoy this thread, you might also like

http://www.disboards.com/threads/defunct-disney-restaurants.3444643/page-2#post-54376622

 

[Uncleromulus]

Easy--Papeete Bay Verandah--where 'Ohana is today.

It was a good Signature-style restaurant--Pacific Rim menu with a hula dancer and a 3-piece combo entertaining throughout the evening.

Every time I walk by 'Ohana I want to cry----

 

[Micca]

Easy--Papeete Bay Verandah--where 'Ohana is today.

It was a good Signature-style restaurant--Pacific Rim menu with a hula dancer and a 3-piece combo entertaining throughout the evening.

Every time I walk by 'Ohana I want to cry----

+1 UncleR. I still have a Minnie's Menehune Breakfast pin from our last brunch there.

 

[abja09]

I was just curious...

What is everyone's favorite WDW Restaurant that has departed? What was the theme, cuisine-type, and noticeable differences from present offerings?

For me, it was Kouzzina. The Southern-American/Greek fusion restaurant that took over Spoodles (on the Boardwalk). Now it's Trattoria al Forno.

Right at dinner opening (5:00 i think it was), the whole wait and kitchen staff and chef would go out onto the boardwalk and get into a big circle. They would choose one family to be "in the middle" (which was my wife and I for our trip) and do this Greek-style "Opa!" chant to get the evening going. After that the head chef would talk to us for a little bit. We still remember how Chef Dee Foundoukis just MADE our experience. She also offered us a not-on-the-menu complimentary appetizer dish and Champagne for our Honeymoon. Her interaction was more memorable than the meal itself (which was plenty memorable).

Chef Dee took over for Trattoria al Forno for a while, but have been told she is now at Le Celier. I hope she's still doing amazing things.

Anyways... what else will we never get to experience again?

We loved Kouzzina too! Ate there every trip.

 

[Tonberry]

Also miss the Old character breakfast at Fort Wilderness. Lots of food, Chip and Dale, and Buff and Melvin from Country Bears Wall. So much fun, think I still have my kazoo!

I remember doing this as a kid in 1986. It was at pioneer hall wasn't it? Talk about nostalgia!

 

[kaybird]

I remember doing this as a kid in 1986. It was at pioneer hall wasn't it? Talk about nostalgia!

Sure that it was at Pioneer Hall. Lots of food, and tons of Fun! Yummy eggs, bacon sausage, l brought to he table. I remember the Huge chocolate chip muffins, and we also got breakfast bars that we snacked on all day. Pretty sure I had bought some sort of coupon booklet (pre- Food n Fun) that included that breakfast.

 

[Uncleromulus]

MIcca: And we still have the Seven Seas Cocktail glasses from that meal in 1975!!

 

[kappyfamily]

So this isn't a WDW restaurant at all and it's not even closed yet, but I'm bummed about Big Thunder Ranch BBQ at Disneyland closing in January. It had the best food!!!!! But it is making way for Star Wars which is awesome....just wish they could skirt around it!

 

[jenjersnap]

So this isn't a WDW restaurant at all and it's not even closed yet, but I'm bummed about Big Thunder Ranch BBQ at Disneyland closing in January. It had the best food!!!!! But it is making way for Star Wars which is awesome....just wish they could skirt around it!

Bummed about this too. We didn't go in March with the "Oh, we will just eat there next time!" Oops, you just can't have that attitude with anything Disney anymore.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary Resort. I loved their Eggs Benedict at breakfast. And their steaks were pretty good.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I missed going to Concourse Steakhouse - it was on my list of places to try but then it closed.

I miss the breakfast at Boatwrights - it was good, peaceful and reasonable.

 

[Dis703]

None of the TS restaurants we've dined at have closed, thankfully. But like pp I really miss the Main Street Bakery as it was before the Starbucks invasion.